Warm Home Discount scheme - Is it repeating in 2016/17? (Scottish Power)

Tara100

I have gratefully received an email today from Scottish Power stating £133.33 Warm Home Discount has been applied to my electricity account for last years' application :T

Does anyone know if the scheme is repeating this year, for payments in 2017, or has it ended now?

Thanks

Richie-from-the-Boro

Yes, core group is automatic [DWP] & Broader group is 1st come 1st served on application when they open the scheme for applications.

Yorkshire_Pud

I'd like to repeat the OP question.

As the original scheme was extended for a further year, past the last General Election:cool: and then ended in March 2016 the Government or any other body has been strangely silent about whether the Scheme will continue?

Given that applications are usually invited around June and its now mid May has anyone a clue or has anyone at mse a clue or is it WHS RIP?:(

Richie-from-the-Boro

Not whether it will continue, that's already decided, future changes to targeting and delivery are being considered. Hope this helps.

Government announced in the Spending Review on 25 November 2015 that the Warm Home Discount scheme would be extended to 2020/21 at current levels of £320m per year. Government proposes to keep the scheme unchanged for 2016/17 in respect of the Core and Broader Groups, in order to ensure smooth delivery and give industry adequate time to prepare for potential changes in future scheme years. Low income and vulnerable pensioners, who receive Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, would continue to receive the rebate automatically. Low income households will still be able to apply to their suppliers for the Broader Group rebate and, if successful, the rebate will be awarded on a first come first served basis. Government proposes to introduce new Regulations for the scheme so that the scheme continues in its current form in 2016/17.

Consultation on any changes went out 8 April 2016, answers in by 6 May 2016

Tara100

OP here

If anyone hears when registrations are open, could you post here please?

I've mooched about online today, and there's no news as yet (though other energy providers are allowing registrations now, so hopefully, it won't be too long)

Thanks

Yorkshire_Pud

I contacted SP customer services last week asking if and when the registrations will begin for the 2016/17 year.

First reply gave me all the info for 2015/16!

I then asked them to answer my question properly and they advised me to contact the DWP!

So I'm now just waiting in the absence of any sensible dialogue with SP.:(

Laurensalive

I asked my energy provider SSE regarding this years Warm Home Discount scheme. The email I received is this. We are still deciding on this years Warm Home Discount Scheme. Not a very good response.

elle_may

Tara100 wrote: »

I have gratefully received an email today from Scottish Power stating £133.33 Warm Home Discount has been applied to my electricity account for last years' application :T

Does anyone know if the scheme is repeating this year, for payments in 2017, or has it ended now?

Thanks

Every other year SP has opened their WHD at the end of June and this is when i have looked. I believe it will continue for 5yrs as i too read the report as stated by Richie.

Sadie100

I called Scottish power two days ago and the advisor I spoke to had no idea.
She said they didn't know if the scheme was running 2016/2017 but that applications last year opened in August / September, so I should call back then 😐

It's pointless calling them, as they don't even have correct knowledge of when applications opened last year!

All we can do is keep Googling for info every couple of weeks, and post back here to help others once there's news.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Sadie100 is correct, the core group is automatically given it. The broader group should do_it_yourself and check on the interwibble.

The recent changes to the regulations should already have been included the introduction of standard eligibility criteria to make it simpler for working families to access the scheme under the so-called Broader Group.

Yorkshire_Pud

Checked again on the SP site yesterday and......

Nothing except the 2015 scheme info, they could at least remove that seeing as its er FINISHED.
:)